DStv Mobile to be launched outside Windhoek

Satellite Pay TV service provider Multichoice Namibia says plans are at an advanced stage to offer the DStv Mobile platform to customers outside Windhoek.Multichoice Namibia General Manager Roger Gertze this week said the DStv mobile platform will be launched in Oshakati and the coastal towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay before the end of the year.DStv mobile has only been available to DStv customers in Windhoek since its launch in 2011, but that is all set to change according to Gertze during an interview with The Economist at the launch of GOtv Plus and Gotv Mobile, a digital terrestrial pay television service, in the capital on Monday. The launch of GOtv Plus, with more than 30 channels, follows the launch of the GOtv bouquet last year. Gertze said the launch was based on a strategic business decision to align MultiChoice Namibia with the national and global efforts towards achieving and positioning itself to fully integrate Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) by 2015, which is the country’s target year to migrate fully towards DTT.With the GOtv bouquet, Gertze said MultiChoice Namibia is targeting all Namibians through the mass market segment as the efforts of migrating from analogue to DTT affects all households across the country.“Furthermore, the product offers a wide variety of genres for viewing pleasure ranging from musical entertainment and movies, sport, lifestyle, documentaries, kids and teens, to religion, and news and commerce. Additionally, GOtv offers a product that is current, appropriate and affordable with emphasis on quality picture and sound for individuals and families,” Gertze said. He said GOtv has grown from strength to strength since its launch in June 2012 as Multichoice continues to provide affordable, quality entertainment through programming that suits various individual and family needs. The launch of the GOtv Plus bouquet comes at a time when the national broadcaster NBC announced the roll out of phase one of its DTT programme on 01 October. Gertze said the launch of GOtv Plus should not be seen as a direct competition to NBC launch since MultiChoice Namibia has embraced the national broadcaster as a partner in this national strategy to implement DTT.